Reflecting camera



June 6 1944 J. MIHALYI 2,350,793

REFLECTING CAMERA Filed Jan. 6, 1942 Josep/7 M/ha/ INVENTO ATTORNEYSPatented June 6, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Eastman Kodak Comcorporation of New 19 Claims.

, manner that the camera may be held at eye level when taking picturesand in such a manner that the iield of view may normally be seen throughthe finder but is momentarily obscured as a picture is taken. Anotherobject of my invention is to provide a parallax-free finder including a.

pany, Rochester, N. Y., a

Jersey 'Application January 6, 1942, serial No. 425,795

shutter member which carries a part of the finder" optical system, theshutter member being so ar- -rangedthat the view finder opening isobscured during the time that an exposure is being made and is uncoveredautomatically after the completion of an exposure. Other objects willappear' from the following specification, the novel features beingparticularly pointed 'out in the claims Y at the end thereof:

Fig. 1 is a top plan View indicating a camera constructed in accordancewith and embodying a preferred form of my invention;

. Fig. 2is an enlarged sectional view taken A through the camera shownin Fig. 1 with certain y parts being omitted Vfor clearness;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken on line 3-3' lof, Fig. 1 showing themore important parts of Fig. 7 is a schematic View partially in sectionlshowing a slightly different embodiment of my invention.

In many cameras the view finder system is spaced from the cameraobjective and conse-I .quently the view finder does not give exactly thesame view as may be obtained when a photograph is made through anobjective in the usual manner. camera objective both for making imagesat the In the present instance I utilize the focal plane of the cameraand for forming the front lens of a view finder optical system, cerytain parts of which may be carried by a movable member mounted betweenthe camera objective and the exposure frame when in a position forcomposing the picture. When a picture is to be made the movable membermay move in timed relation to a camera shutter so that the view finderis momentarily obscured as a picture is taken and preferably so that theview finder will be uncovered as soon as a shutter covers the exposureaperture.

Coming now to my invention a simple form of my camera may consist of acamera body I having on the front wall 2 a lens mount 3 carrying anysuitable objective 4. The rear wall 5 of the camera preferably is hingedat 6 and is provided with a latch at 'I so that the camera. 'back may beswung open to expose a supply film chamber 8 and a take-up film chamber9 to either side of an exposure frame I0. A winding knob I I on theoutside of the camera may serve to move the film from the supply chamber8 to the take-up chamber 9 and the number of exposures may be seenthrough the usual window I2 covered with a red or green filter.

On the top wall I3 of the camera I prefer to place a, trigger member I4and a shutter tensioning knob I5.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 3 it will benoticed that the objective 4 normally forms an image on a film Fstretched across the exposure frame I0. However, when the camera is inposition for composing a picture, a concave reflectorl lies between theexposure frame I0 and the objective 4 and this reflector serves both asan image forming element and a field element. In other words, thereflector I6 has sufficient power to form an aerial image, indicated Ain Fig. 7, between the camera objective and the exposure frame and thisimage is reflected by a mirror Il rearwardly along a line substantiallyparallel to the lens axis Lwhere it may be erected by an erecting prismI8 which lies just in front of an eyepiece or lens I9.

In the embodiment of my invention as shown in Fig. 3 the mirror I'Iincludes a lens element 20 so that the lens I9 of the eyepiece and thelens 20 permit the aerial image to be properly focused and thus give theappearance of a large and brilliant image of the field of view. In fact,the field of view appears to be of substantially the same size as theexposure frame.

As also indicated in Fig. 3, the optical element I6 is carried by amovable member 2| which is mounted to move between the objective 4 andthe exposure frame III to swing the optical element I6 to and from itsview finding position shown in this figure. If desired, the movableelement 2l may be in the form of a truncated cone-shaped member having aslot 22 which may form a shutter member and being mounted to swing upona stud 23 carried by a bracket 24 which in turn is supported by thecamera walls.

In order to move the movable member I provide a power spring 25, theupper end of which 25 is attached to the` winding knob I5 and the lowerendf which 26' is anchored on the frame member 24. The winding knob Icarries a post 2'I having a squared end 28 (Fig. 4), this squared endcarrying a spring member 29 having downwardly extending arms 30 sopositionedfthat one or more of these arms may engage one or more slots3l in the gear 32 asflbestshown inFig. 5.

A pawl 33 engaging the gear teethll0 prevent rearward movement of theknob so thatv it maybe turned with a number of short turns to tensionthe driving spring 25. When an expQSlllTe 1S made and the gear is turnedby the spring arms /-l'rinthe direction `opposite tothat shown by theAll"ar-'row in@ Fig. 4, theY teeth l34 ofthe gear mesh with--teeth35carried-by a gear 36 attached to the -ftruncated-cone-shaped member 2|,thus causing i-thespr-ing to rotate this member. -As it ro- Lta'tes,the'rst part of the movement removes the optical element I6 from infront of the exposure '-vframel -and permits the objective f4 to make anexposure when the slot 22V of the movable member 2l passes the exposureYframe. Y nInfthe present form of my invention it is de-`sir-a-ble'tohave the movable member make one "revolution at -eachactuation of the trigger I4.

iAsindicated in-Fig.-6, Vvthe trigger I4 is attached to a' post 538encircled by a spring 39 normally holding the trigger against a suitablestop which may include an edge walled@ of Ythe bracket 24 Lvand a lug4IY on theftrigger arm 42 as shown Vin IFig-.- '6.-V When-the trigger I4is turned in the ldirection show-n byV the arrew-inFig. v1', the turned?down end 43 of `the arm 42 "rides away from a -pihl44carried by-themovable member 2 Iv so that "if the spring 25' is-tensicned,-the movablemember 2I will swing through approximately 360 or #until the :pin 4Irides under the spring arm 45 attached to the bottom of the arm 42Y asVshown in Fig(l 6; spring arm has an upstanding =lug41-which is bent atV48 Vto lie over the top of he arm-42.l A

YAfter-each-revolutionof the movable member f JvI-abo'ut its axis l2-3the parts reach the position v@shown-in Figs. 3 and 6 at which time itis neces- -ssarly vto turn the winding knob I5 to tension the -VSpr-ing25; Y vf'-'Lhaves-hown in Fig. -7 a modification of the embodiment of myinventionshownin Fig. 3, wherein the objective Lis mounted as in the rstembodiment and whereinthe movable member f'IZ I .diiers from member'- 2IV-in that the optical "lelement VI-Ii is formeddirectlyin the metal ofwhich the element I2I is made. As inthe first `-`embodiment the-nlm-Fflies across anrexposure 'iframe I5 and it would normally receive animage nformed by-vthe objective 4, but when the optical element I I6lies inits patitas-'shown in Fig. 7, this optical element with theobjective 4 produc-:esy an image of the field of View of slightly frsmaller sizethan theleld` at the exposure frame as indicated at A. Inthis instance theV image i ate.v may be. viewed after reflection by themirror .1 I II after itlis erected by the erecting prism H8 fbehind`.wlfiich is'ianeyepiece `H9. It may be pointed outthat if desired theerecting prism 1 II may be omitted ii'flit is necessary to reduce:.acosts to a minimum. It is, however, Vmor-e diicult to properlyvisualize the eld of view if the image is inverted. In the embodimentshown in Fig. 7 the eyepiece IIS is focused directly upon the image A,the mirror II'I having a plane surface without power. If, however, somepower is required as in Fig. 3, the lenses II and I9 together focus theaerial image which is in front of the optical element I5.

In both forms of my invention it will be noticed that the camera isconstructed so that it may be used at eye level and so that the line ofvisio-n is substantially axially arranged with respect to the axis ofthe objective. In Fig. 3, the line of sight isat a small angle to theaxis of the objective, thus `permitting the line of sight to be1slightly downward with respect thereto, but this may sometimes beconsidered an advantage.

The movable member 2I in both forms of my invention is provided with anarcuate opening 3l which opening is so positioned that the eld lci' viewmay Apass through this .opening during the major part .of movement ofthe movable member. This opening may Ybe conveniently formed around theaxis 23 and may be -of substantially 185, although kthe extent of thisopening lis mostlya matter .ofdesign `In the present instance theopening22 of theshutter maybeof approximately 45., if the shutter is to have va xed opening. However, the size .of the opening may vary with the powerofthe spring used. Usuallyif Vthere is only a single exposure theduration should be between ya', and 3/50.of a second.

With a camera constructedin accordanceswith leither embodiment vof myinvention the operation .of taking e, picture is extremely simple forafter winding the .winding knob yII until 'a fresh lm is positioned atthe exposure aperture I0, -t

. isonly necessary to turn the .knob I5 until the spring is wound whenspring 25 yis under tension, the operator by looking through theVviewing aperture. IDI) in the back'wall 5 nof the Vcamera may observewhat appears, to b ea full size image, right side up. When the pictureiscomposed the trigger .member I;4 is. moved in the direction. shown bythearrow y(Fig. l) so that the movable member 2l may swing .thev,optical element I6 out of Y the path of light'goingtoward the exposureframe ,I 0 .andthis moyementwill close theviewing opening by movingtheopening 3'1 fromV the position shown .in Fig. 3. Continued movement ofthe movable memberZI ,may cause the slot 22 to swing acrossthe frlm'eFmaking an exposure and to. continue swinging untilthe latch pin-44.snaps underl the spring 45 and isvheld in a latched position againstthe end 43 of the trigger member. The view opening is. againuncoveredsosthat the second picture can be observed.

It will be noticed that in both forms. of my invention the mqvablemembersZI or .I,2I. are .so mounted that. they may lie very close to thefilm F and close. tothev exposure Aframe I0. vIn both instances, themovable member may. slwingto move thezoptical elements I6 or IIiAfromtheir image forming .position to a position which will permit anexposure to be, made. In both embodiments oi my invention Athe movablemember isi so arangcd thatthe view Vopening is uncovered only when.` theexposureframe is covered and the-exposureframe` is uncovered-formakingan vexposure-only whenv the view opening is covered.

'Ihus,.light cannot enter -thevieW opening-teicg elements are inposition to film and the -lm VisfrcoveredV when the optical formanimage--for composing a picture.

What-I claim and desire to secure by Letters 'Patent of the UnitedStates is:

ll In a camera, the combination with a camera body of an objectivecarried thereby, an exposure frame, and a movable member between the exzfrom the exposure frame.

2. In a camera, the combination with a camera body of an objectivecarried thereby, an exposure frame, and a movable member between theexposure frame and theobjective and including a curved flange having ageneration line movable into a position substantially parallel to theexposure frame, asconcave ,reflector carried by the said iiange of themovable member, said movable member being mounted to bring the concavere- `flector into a position to overlie the exposure frame and toreceive light rays passing from the camera objective toward saidexposure frame,

said movable member including an exposure aperture and said curvedflange normally blocking light from the objective to the film, therebyconstituting a shutter.

3. In a camera, the combination with a camera body of an objectivecarried thereby, an exposure frame, and a movable member between theexrposure frame and the objective and including a .curved ange having ageneration line movable into a position substantially parallel to theexposure frame, a concave reflector carried by the flange of saidmovable member, said movable camera objective toward said exposureframe, said movable member including an exposure aperture, said curvedange normally blocking light `from the objective to the lm, therebyconstituting a shutter, anda second aperture in the movf able memberthrough which light rays reflected by said concave reflector fordefining the field .of view may pass.

i 4. In a camera, the combination with a camera body, including anexposure frame and an objective spaced therefrom, of a movable member, aconical flange carried thereby positioned to move to and from a positionbetween the objective, and exposure frame and having a generation lineclose to and substantially parallel to the ex;

posure frame, an optical component having focusingV power carried by themovable member for movementv therewith and into a position along theaxis of the objective, to form, with the objective, an aerial image ofthe field of View spaced from the exposure frame and at least partiallylocated between the exposure frame and the ob- ,.jective.

5. In a camera, the combination with a camera body, including anexposure frame and an ob- .jective spaced therefrom, of a movablemember,

a flange carried thereby and positioned to move spaced forwardly fromthe exposure frame, said optical component, when in said position alongthe axis of the objective, constituting primarily a collective element.

6. In a camera, the combination with a camera body, including anexposure frame and an objective spaced therefrom, of a movable member, acurved flange thereon positioned to move to and from a position betweenthe objective and exposure frame and having a generation line close toand substantially parallel to the exposure frame, an optical componenthaving focusing power carried by the flange of the movable member formovement therewith and into a position along the axis of the objectiveand close to the exposure frame, to form, with the objective an aerialimage of the i-leld of view spaced from the exposure frame, said opticalcomponent, when in said position along the axis of the objective,constituting primarily a collective element of substantially the size ofthe exposure frame.

7. In a camera, the combination with a camera body, including anexposure frame and an objective spaced therefrom, of a movable member, acurved flange thereon positioned to move to and from a position betweenthe objective and exposure frame and having a generation line close to`and substantially parallel to the exposure .frame, an optical componenthaving focusing power carried by the flange of movable member formovement therewith and into a position along the axis of the objective,to form with the objective, an aerial image of the field of view spacedfrom the exposure frame and at least partially between the exposureframe and the objective, said optical component, when in said positionalong the axis of the objective, constituting primarily a collectiveelement and, secondarily, an image-forming element.

8. In a camera, the combination with a camera body, including anexposure frame and an objective spaced therefrom, of a movable member, acurved flange thereon positioned to move to and from a position betweenthe objective and exposure frame and having a generation linesubstantially parallel to the exposure frame, an optical componenthaving focusing power carried by the flange of the movable member formovement therewith and into a position along the axis of the objective,to form, with the objective,` an aerial image of the eld of Viewimmediately in front of said optical component and slightly reducing thesize of said image from that received by the exposure frame when saidmovable member is moved.

9. In a camera, the combination with a camera body, including anexposure frame and an objective spaced therefrom, of a movable member,

, a curved fiange thereon positioned to move to and from apositionbetween the objective and exposure frame and having a generation lineclose to and substantially parallel to the exposure frame, an opticalcomponent having focusing power carried by the flange of the movablemember for movement therewith and into a position along the axis of theobjective, said optical component constituting both a eld element and animageforming element,

l0. In a camera, the combination with a camera body, including anexposure frame and an objective spaced therefrom, of a movable member, acurved flange thereon positioned to move to and from a position betweenthe objective and exposure frame and having a generation linesubstantially parallel to and close to the exposure .'frame, an optical.component having Vfocusing .power carried by saidxflange of the:movabletmem- .ber formovement therewith Aand into a `position along theaxis of the objective and close toithe exposure frame, said .opticalcomponent constitut- -ingiboth a field element .and an image-forming.element .adjacent to .the :exposure frame and adapted to slightlyreduce the size of the eld of :View with respect to theexposure frameand positioned at such an angle to the lensaxis that .the reproducedaerial .fieldof View may be viewed by reflection, .and means 'includingan .eye piece and mirror carriedv lby the Ycamera for viewing I theaerial image sofproduced, the eyepiece Abeing located above thefexposureframe.

11, In a camera of the type includinga camera body havinganexposureframe and an objective spaced therefrom, the combination with .ashutter member mounted to move about an axis at an -angle to the axis.ofthe objective, said shutter memberV including a truncated cone shapedshield ,.havinga generation line extending substantially parallel to theexposure frame and adjacent thereto, .aniexposure aperture therein, areflective op- ;ticalelement havingifocusing power carried by -.theshield and positioned thereon to be spaced from .the exposureV frameandmovable with the shield to and from .a position adjacent the exposureframe and in axial alignment with the .objective and adapted, `whenadjacent ythe exposure frame, `to receive and focus light rays from theobjective into an aerial image in a viewable .position to define the eldof view.

`12. In .3. camera, the combination with a camerabody .of an objectiveon the front of the .,body, an exposure frame near the rear Wall of -thecamera, and-means movably mounted between the. objective and exposureframe and positioned to move close to the exposure frame for forming andreflecting an aerial image of Athe field of view toward .the front ofthecamera and at least partially between the exposure frame and Y. theobjective, afmirror .near the front wall thereof, and a Viewing openingin. the rear wall above the .exposure frame for viewing the image re'-.ected by the `mirror along a line substantially parallel to the. axisor" the objective, said mov,-

- ably '.mount-ed means comprising a slotted frustro-conical shapedmember mounted to swing the slot past the kexposure-frame for making anexposure. i

13. In a camera, the combination with a camera body of an objective onthe front of the body,` an exposure frame near the rear wall of thecamera, and means movably mounted between the objective and exposureframe and positioned to move close tothe exposure -frame forl form-ingand reflecting an aerial image of thefield of -view f towardt efrontofthe camera and at least partially .between the, exposure vframe and theobjec- Ytive,A a .mirror near thelfrontrwall thereof, and aviewingopening in the rear wall above the ex- Aposure frame for viewing-the aerial image reflected by. the mirror along a line substantially`parallel to the axis of the objective, said movably mountedmeanscomprising a frustro-conical shaped member having a slot therein,ay pivot therefor inclined at substantially 45 Vto the axis oftheobjective, the frustro-conical-shaped meml berhaving ,a generation linesubstantially parallel to the exposureframeand adjacent thereto. 14. Inacamera,Y the combination with a j, camera body of.v an objective on Vtheiront. of the body, an exposure frame .near the rear' wall of thecamera, and means` movably mounted between theobjective andexposureframe and positioned to move closeto the exposure frame forforming :and reflecting an aerial image Vof the eld -of viewtowardthefront oi the camera and Avat least Vpartially between the ob-jectiveandthe exposure frame, fa mirror near the :front wall thereof, vandaVviewing opening in the rear wall y.above the exposure frame for viewingthe image reected vby the .mirror along a line substantially parallel tothe axis ofthe objective, said movably .mounted member including apivotally mounted frustro-conical member having two slots therein sospaced that one may swing past the exposure frame to make an exposure,`and the other may. swing `.past 4the viewing opening, saidfrustroconicalmember having a generation line substantially parallel toand adjacent the exposure frame of the camera.

15. In a camera, the combination with a camera .body of an objective onthe :front vof the body, van exposure frame near the rear wall of thecamera, and means movably mounted `between'the objective and exposureframe and positioned to move close to theexposure frame for forming andreecting an aerial image of the eld of view toward the front of theAcameraand at least partially between the exposure frame and theobjective, a mirror near the front wall thereof, and a viewing openingin the rear wallabove the exposure frame for viewing the image-reflectedby the mirror along a linesubstantially parallel to the axis of theobjective, saidv movably mounted member including a pivotally..mountedfrustro-conical member having a generationlline parallel andcloseto theexposure frame and having two slots therein so spaced that one may swingpast the exposure frame to make an' exposure, and the other .may swingpast the viewing opening with one slot .moving across the-exposureopening, .while the other slot lies outof the path of the viewingopening.

16. In a camera., the combination with a camera body of an objectiveVori-the front ofthe body, an exposure frame near the rear wall ofthecameral and means movably mounted between the objective and exposureframe comprising ra frustro-conical member including Ya curved Wallhaving a generation line substantially parallel with and positioned tomove close to the exposure frame, an optical element carried thereby forforming and reflecting an aerial image ofthe eld of view toward .thefront of the camerafand lying vat least partially betweenthe objectiveand exposure frame, a mirror near-'the front-wall thereof, and viewingopening in the rear wall above the exposure frame for viewing the imagereiected by the mirror along aline substantially parallel. to: the axisof the objective, a pivotal mount for said means movably mounted betweenthe objective and exposure frame, said means movably mounted between theobjective and exposure frame including two slotsv therein so spaced thatthe frustro-conical member is-lying in a position. to uncover theviewing opening after an. exposure-has been made by swinging one slot ofthe frustro-conical member acrosslthe exposure frame.v

117. In al camera., ther combination with a camera body of anobjectiveon theiront ofthe body, an: exposure frame near' the rearwall-of thecamera', and means' movably mounted-'between the objective and exposureframeand positioned to move closefto the exposure frame'for forming andreflecting arr aerial image of the field. of view toward the' fronti ofthe-camera and atleast partially between the exposure frame and theobjective, a mirror near the front wall thereof, and a viewing openingin the rear wall above the exposure frame for viewing the imagereflected by the mirror along a line substantially parallel to the axisof the objective, said movably mounted member including a pivotallymounted frustro-conical member, the generation line of which may beparallel to and near the exposure frame, said frustro-conical memberhaving two slots therein, a pivoted mount for said member, means forturning said member on said mount between a view-exposing position inwhich one slot exposes the iield of view and an exposing position inWhich the other slot exposes the exposure frame.

18. In a camera, the combination with a camera body of an objective onthe front of the body, an exposure frame near the rear Wall of thecamera, and means movably mounted between the objective and exposureframe and positioned to move close to the exposure frame for forming andreflecting an aerial image of the eld of View toward the front of thecamera and at least par.

tially between the exposure frame and the objective, a mirror near thefront Wall thereof, and a Viewing opening in the rear wall above theexposure frame for viewing the image reflected by the mirror along aline substantially parallel to the axis of the objective, said movablymounted member including a pivotally mounted frustreconical member, thegeneration line of which may be parallel to and near the exposure frame,said frustro-conical member having two slots therein, a pivoted mountfor said member, means for turning said member on said mount between aview-exposing position in which one slot exposes the eld of View and anexposing position in which the other slot exposes the exposure frame,the spacing of the frustro-conical member slots being such that only oneof the slots may move to an exposing position at one time.

19. In a camera, the combination with a camera body of an objective onthe front of the body, an exposure frame near the rear Wall of thecamera, and means movably mounted between the objective and exposureframe and positioned to move close to the exposure frame for forming andreflecting and focusing an aerial image of the eld of view slightly infront of the means movably mounted between the objective and theexposure frame and optical elements carried by the camera for viewingthe image so formed, said means movably mounted between the objectiveand exposure frame including a curved surface, the generation line ofwhich may lie adjacent and substantially parallel to the exposure frameof the camera body.

JOSEPH MIHALYI.

